Balancing closure for windows, doors, partitions and the like



`une'll, 1957 V. LAVA BALANCING CLOSURE VFOR WINDOWS. DOORS, PARTITIONSAND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 3, 1951 INVENTOR: vnomo LAVA,

H/.5 AGEN 7i y V June 11, 1957 Y v. LAVA 2,795,016

BALANCING CLOSURE FOR WINDOWS. DOORS, PARTITIONS AND THE LIKE Filed May3, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTUR.-

vl vnToRxo LAVA,

JuneY ll, 1957 v LAVA A 2,795,015

BALANOING OLOSURE FOR WINDOWS. DOORS, PARTITIONS AND TRE LIKE:

Filed may 3, 1951 5 sheets-sheet :s

JNVENTOIO 'VITTORIO LAVA,

Tr-111,Y

' -MWM HIS HSE/VZ June 11, 1957 v. LAVA 2,795,016

l BALANCING CLOSURE FOR WINDOWS, DOORS, PARTITIONS AND THEI LIKE Filednay 3, 1951 A A s sheets-sheet 4 cvToooR INVENTOR.- VITTO '2l O LAVA,

/ZwL/l M HIS AGE/V7.'

l June 11, 1957 V. LAVA 2,795,016

BALANCING CLOSURE. FOR WINDOWS. DOORS, PARTITIONS AND THE LIKE Filed May5, 1951 v 1em-A 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 l INVENTR: Avwcnzlo LAVA,

BY i I,

United States Patent BALANCING CLOSURE FOR WINDOWS, DOORS, PARTITIONSAND THE LIKE Vittorio Lava, Milan, Italy Application May 3, 1951, SerialNo. 224,331

6 Claims. (Cl. 20-42) The present invention relates to a balancingclosure for windows, doors, partitions and the like.

The balancing closure, which possesses technical and economicaladvantages over the common sash models, is known to be subject toinconveniences. In particular, in the type-s known up to now, i-t is notpossible to secure an etective air and water tightness `along the wholeof the perimeter of the frame, inasmuch as, in cor-respondence with theaxis of oscillation, where the opposite joints converge, the pivot ofrota-tion interrupts the continuity of the joints themselves. In theknown types, moreover, it is not possible to realize an adjustableopening together with a complete inversion of -the movable frame andthere is no possibility of entirely drawing said movable 4frame into theplace Ifor normal maintenance operations: nor 'is there a possibility ofwithdrawing the movable -from the Ifixed frame by simple operations.

The object of the present invention is a balancing closure thateliminates all the inconveniences above cited and that presents besidesparticular advantages that will better lbe evident in the course of thedescription.

The `balancing closure according to the invention comprises a fixed aswell as a movable frame, so connected as to permit a movement of manualrotation and of manual sliding of the latter in regard to the former, sothat the movable tra-me may be rotated for determining the desiredopening of the closure, may be upturned and may be caused to slide untilit re-enters entirely the room. The connection between the two frames iseffected, according to the invention, by means capable of rotating withrespect to one frame and to permit a sliding of the other one, forinstance by a pair of brackets or supports pivoted on the fixed frame,and upon which the movable frame may be iixed so as to allow it to slidewhen s-o desired, fand also of being entirely withdrawn 'by a simpleoperation. f

According to the invention the pivots around hich iseifecte-d therotation of the connecting means above 'mentioned and therefore also ofthe movable frame, determine an axis of rotation parallel to the planesof the closure but external to the thickness :of the closure. This isdesigned to provide a connection without any gap of continuity betweenthe joints above the axis of rotation 4 and those below it. There isprovided, in correspondence with the inversion of the joints of the twoframes along the sides having the pivots, a joint at right angles with.the longitudinal joints and parallel to the axis of rotation, in such amanner as to ensure the continuity of the `A preferred form ofconstruction of a window closure les* j 2,795,0'116 Patented June 11,1957 2 I according to the present invention is illustrated as anexemplifcation in the accompanying drawings,`to lwhich the followingdescription relates. l

Fig. I1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing the closurein two different positions. y

IFig.v 2 is a sectional View, similar to Fig. 1, but showing twofurtherpositions.

F ig. 3 is a sectional view, similar to the preceding views, but.showing a further position.

Fig. 4 is `a fragmentary perspective view of the complete closure.

IFig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective View, partly'in section, that showsa detail of the frames with the rain water drip canal-s.

Fig. 6 isa schematic perspective view showing a detail of the .frames inconnection with the balance pivot.

Fig. 7 is `a fragmentary sectional View, partly in elevation, taken online' 7 7 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 8 is afragmentary sectional View, showing the pivot sections withthe friction device.

With reference'to said figures, :by A is indicated the fixed frame ofthe closure, while :by B and'C are indicated the two.` partsconstituting the movable frame. Parts `B and C are hinged together alongside 2 (perpendicularly to the sides carrying the pivots) so as ltopermit the free opening of the frame, as indicate-d in Fig. 3 with auarrow Y,by an operator, for cleaning. It is understood that at least oneof the other sides will have suitable means of connection of parts B andC (means not shown), such as locking means to keep the frame normallyclosed.v in Figs. l to 3 are `shown with full and "dotted lines somepositions rthat the movable frame can '.take'with respect to thetixedone. The opening is effected, by kturning the upper section of the partsB and C towards 'Indoor" (Fig. 5), according to arrow X.

To` the side posts ofthe fixed frame A are connected by suitablemeanspfor instance' by L-shaped sections 6, two co-axial pivot pins 4for the rotation of the movable fra-me.' The axis of rotation oroscillation, as the figures clearly indicate, is external, viz. isoutside of the thickness of the closure and in the case illustra-ted itis external in respect lwith the surface of the closure that lays insidethe room.

Around each of the pivots 4 can rotate a means of connection with themovable frame, in the example shown, a :formed plate 8 with whichcooperate, as will be said further on, the side posts of the movableframe B, C. Each pivot 4 carries a plate 8 and also discs 10 and plates14. One of the discs 19 is elongated and forms a bracket connected tothe stationary frame. The end of each pivot 14 is threaded and engageson the threaded end a bushing 16. By tightening the bushing 16, thefriction adverse to the 'turning of the plate S is increased. Thus, themovable frame, which rests on 4the plates 8, may be held-in a desiredposition by adjustment of the members 16.

lPlates 14 in Pig. '8 are fixedv and pressed, through friction discs 10(made forlinstance from asbestos, or other suitable material) againstthe oscillating part of the friction device, by means of a threadedbushing 16, one bushing 16 being mounted on the threaded end of eachpivot pin 4, which makes it possible to adjust the friction device.

."lhe mechanism ,described admits of `establishing at will theinclination of the movable part of the closure lby the reason -that saidlfriction counteract-s theV action 4of gravity that tends to cause theclosure to turn in a sense opposite to that of arrow X. The'particularlocation of the axis of oscillation with respect to ltheplane of ythe closure permits of yrealising a perfect continuity of thejoints between movable vframe B C and,iiicedframe A. jT'he latter,namely thefxed `around hinges 2.

3 Y frame A for instance, has, in fact, in the section above the axis ofthe pivot a joint `18 turned towards the inside (that collaborates withjoint 20 turned towards the outside `of the oscillating `parts B and C),while in the section below the axis .of pivotment the part A has a joint22 turned towards the `outside (intended to` collaborate with joint 24of `frame B andY C which. looks towards the inside). In correspondencewith the inversion of the joints is provided a joint surface orthogonalto said joints, that is, parallel with the axis of rotation of themovable frame, extending substantially along the whole width of thetwolongitudinal joints. Said .joint surface is indicated by 26 in thedrawings and has, in the example illustrated, a special shape with aprismatic projection, with the sides inclined so as not hinder therelative movement of `frames B=C with relation to the xed frame A.

Plates 8, triangular in form, are not rigidly connected to part C of themovable frame but only rest against the internal surface of the posts of.said frame. The ends of the resting side of plate 8 have each a nose28, while a second nose 30 is provided at its side. On the side posts ofpart C of the movable frame `,are fastened a pair of hooks 32 and asecond pair of hooks 34 looking in opposite directions. Each hook 32 isopen towards the joint 20, and each hook 34 open towards the joint 24. iThe two hooks of each pair are displaced as compared to the hooks of theother pair on each side post so as to engage the plate 8 one with an endnose 28 andthe other one with a side nose 30.

Thus, it is evident that 'frame OB can slide by manual operationlongitudinally relative to the support plates 8 and is pressed againstthe plates 8 yduring the sliding by gravity; the sliding may be carriedout for a distance depending Vfrom the mutual distance between thepaired hooks 32 and 34, and at the end of the movement the frame iscaused to be rigidly bound to `said plates` 8 by means of either one ofthepairs of hooks. It is evident that the connection might be .realizedwith different devices `and operate for several fixed positions. Whenthe frame is in an intermediary position between the hooks, it may belifted off the plates 8 and ifA desired be redeposited thereon near oneend of the frame, as shown in Fig. 3.

'By observing Figs. l and 2 the working is obvious. In the former figurethe frame loads plate 8 through the pairs ofhooks 32. However, when theframe is manually turnedthrough 180 with respect to -ts closed position(Fig. 2) it transfers its `weight on plate 8 through the hooks 34. This,means that the lframe hasslid over plates 8 in the direction of arrowZ, this 'being permitted by its disengagement from the u-pper crosspiece of fixed frame thatwould otherwise have hindered `the completeupturning towards the inside of the movable frame.

lt is possible, of course, to obtain the complete disengagement of thehooks from plates 8, and in this case` frame B=C` can slide over saidplates until it 'comes back inside the room, as shown -by Fig. .3.

Parts B and C can be opened by the operator by turn ing, as said above,part Bin the direction of arrow Y In the position shown in Fig. 3, thepart B would be held by hand. The panes can then be cleaned in theinside and normal operations of maintenance can be carriedout.

The upturning of the frame a-s in Fig. 2 permits .cleaning the outerpane.

Either of parts B and C is preferably equipped with a pane 36 so as tocreate a .tight chamber functioning .as a thermic and acousticinsulation.

In the interspace between the two panes 36 `can be disposed a blind, forinstance a Venetian blind schematically indicated at 38 (Fig. l),thatmay `be:,opei"ated even when the closure is shut (by `strings not shownin the drawing). The 'blind' should preferably be of themetallic-striptype .ammore t 4 t that can be gathered -upwards or lowered and suitablyoriented in order to have the desired screening etfect.

Panes 36 are fastened `by means of simple strips 40 having a rectangularsection xed to parts B and C of the movable frame.

Lower external strip 40 (-Fig. 5) has internal grooves 42 correspondingto grooves v44 of part B of the frame. Said grooves create drip canals=for rain water that eventually should assemble on the outside loweredge of the movable frame (and especially when said edge is inclinedtowards the outside). Other grooves 46 on the lower edge of the fixedframe are intended to permit the discharge of the condensate that wouldeventually form in the interspace between the two panes.

I claim:

l. In a balancing closure, for windo'ws or the like, in combination, axed frame, a movable frame rotatable relative to said fixed frame andbeing slidable between two opposite extreme positions perpendicularly ofits axis of rotation, journalling means between said frames operable forguiding said movable frame in rotation relative to said iixed frame andincluding pivoting means for said movable frame for manual rotationthereof about its axis of rotation, and having surfaces for the manualsliding of said movable frame thereon, and disposed on the exterior ofsaid fixed frame, said fixed frame comprising an upper section includinga projection facing in one direction perpendicularly of said axis and alower section having a projection facing in an opposite direction, saidmovable frame having extensions for abutment with said projections forsealing said fixed frame in the closed position throughout both sectionsand having external slide surfaces for engagement with the surface ofsaid journalling means, said journalling means having portions rotatableabout said pivot axis and including noses on said surfaces, and meansconnected to said movable frame and including on each of said slidesurfaces groups of hooks spaced from each other operable to engage someof the noses of said rotatable portions in each of said extremepositions.

2. In a balancing closure, as claimed in claim l, said lower projectionof said xed frame having at least one part of prismatic shape adjacentthe pivoting means for the movable frame with its side inclined forclearing the path of movement of said movable frame,` said movable framehavingy matching prismatic recesses engaging said prismatic parts -ofsaid xed frame when the balancing closure is shut.

3. In a balancing closure, as claimed in claim 1, said pivoting meanscomprising friction elements operable for frictionally engaging saidrotatable portions at any desired position of inclination of saidmovable frame in its rotation relative to said xed frame.

4. In a balancing closure, as claimed in claim 3, together with, saidpivoting means including a threaded bushing operable to `adjust thedegree `of friction applied by `said elements.

5. Ina balancing closure, forV windows or the like, in combination, afixed framepa movable frame being revoluble and shiftable relative tosaid fixed frame, a pivot mechanism journalled with relation to saidfixed frame and including two oppositely disposed rotatable members eachhaving a plane slide surface, opposite portions of said movable frame.abutting against said slide surfaces and being manually slidablethereon in opposite directions for the shifting of said movable framerelative to said fixed frame between opposite extreme shifting positionsand being manually rotatable with said members for rotation of saidmovable frame relative to said fixed frame, and means apportionedbetween said slide surfaces and said portions of said movable frameoperable for releasable latching interengagement between said movableframe and said rotatable members in each extreme shifting posia tion.

last named means including two pairs of hooks secured to said movableframe for each pivot, the hooks of each pair facing in one direction,opposite to that of the other pair, and projections on said pivotmechanism operable for engaging a pair of hooks in each extremeposition.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 DietzNov. 14, 1933 Wernple Aug. 3, 1937 Persson Jan. 9, 1940 Lindemann Feb.25, 1941 Lidin Apr. 9, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Netherlands 1940 Sweden 1943Great Britain 1944

